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"Why," you ask? Because we want profile pages to have freedom of customization, but also to have some consistency. This way, when anyone visits a deviant, they know they can always find the art in the top left, and personal info in the top right.

Longestone-shot I've ever written and also the most intense one. I actuallystarted it a few months back but lost interest when only two sceneswere missing. Thanks to a writing spree, it's complete now.

I only edited the story once, so please tell me if there areunbearable mistakes. The length just made the process pretty hard,but I might look it over again later. It should be readable, though.

Roommate is also on a good way and if work stops bugging melong enough, I should be able to update next week.

And now, enjoy!

Disclaimer: I STILL don't own One Piece.

Of Love And Loss

The air was heavy with cigarette smoke and the stench ofsweaty bodies. Music droned loudly over the dance floor and mostguests in Makino's club were dancing to its heavy beat, swingingtheir barely clad bodies to the rhythm while the rest did their bestto get drunk or pick someone up for the night.

A blond man sat at one of the tables, an unlit cigarettedangling from his lips and oblivious to all the half-naked peopledancing around him. Usually the first one to chat someone up, SanjiBlack had settled for something else that night and was nowsupporting his chin with his hand as he looked at the green-hairedguy in front of him with a gentle smile.

Zoro, who had had a few rough nights at work, was sleepingwith his head lying on the table, snoring loud enough that even themusic couldn't drown him out. He hadn't even taken the time to changehis clothes and was still dressed in his 'Security'-shirt with thebullet-proofed vest beneath it.

Sanji's smile widened as he reached out to touch a strand ofZoro's green hair, letting it slip between his fingertips. "Stupidmarimo head," Sanji whispered, his eyes shining as he took inthe sleeping swordsman, his fingers still running throughsurprisingly soft hair. "You have to learn to say no, you know?"

Zoro was working as a freelance bodyguard and with hisreputation of never letting his clients even get a scratch, he hadmore orders than he could possibly take care of. If he could help it,he still refused to turn them down, however, and the result wasalways this: a completely exhausted idiot, sleeping inside a danceclub.

"He still out of it?" a voice asked and Sanji lookedup to see Franky with new drinks standing next to him. He was wearingone of his bright Hawaii T-shirts, a stark contrast to Sanji'selegant suit. Franky had the habit of standing out and his light bluehair, trademark speedos and colourful shirts were nothing against hisblazing personality.

The man had also been the reason why they were at the club inthe first place: it was his very first day at work as a barkeeper andas his friends, they wanted to make sure, he would have more thanenough work... a plan that quickly went sour when the strongestdrinker among them passed out minutes after his arrival.

"He overdid it again," Sanji answered softly. "Hadto protect some rich brat... you know how he is with kids."

"Same as you with women," Franky replied, noddinghis head while Sanji grimaced. "But that seemed to have changedtoo, huh? Shouldn't you be out there and pick up some chicks insteadof messing with Zoro-bro's hair?"

Sanji's hand stopped at once at Franky's words and surprisedif not a bit shocked, he looked at his hand hovering over Zoro'shead.

Franky frowned. "Dude, don't tell me you haven'trealised... what's up with you lately? Your cigarette isn't evenlit!", he said, his voice disbelievingly as he stared at hisfriend who quickly took the cigarette out of his mouth. "Ihaven't even seen you flirt at all today."

"I... don't know," Sanji answered.

Franky was silent for a bit and then lay a hand on hisshoulder. "I've noticed it for a while now... Zoro and you, theway you talk and touch each other... Sanji-bro, don't take this thewrong way but it looks to me as if you two aren't just friends anymore."

Sanji turned his head away from his friend and looked at hishands again. The music seemed to quieten down as his thoughts keeledover and he took in his pale and tingling fingers.

"I... really don't know."

Sanji lit up a cigarette, his gaze shifting to the bright moon ashe sucked in the smoke.

He was standing at the back entrance of the Baratie, a poshrestaurant where he was working at most of the time, and let histhoughts wander back to the day when his world had turned upsidedown.

It had been an epiphany of sorts, a revelation that had come asunexpected as unwanted. Sanji was a man who loved women more thananything else. Nothing could compare to the softness of their skin,full lips that begged to be kissed or gentle natures that ought to beworshipped.

Never before had he thought these things about a man and even now,he wasn't quite seeing Zoro the same way as he saw those beautifulwomen.

And yet, there was this... thing between them.

Sanji sighed, the breath that escaped his mouth being mixed by awisp of smoke. With his shift ending two hours ago, it had becomeawfully late... all thanks to the shitty old geezer who had made himstay longer when he had 'bothered the female costumers'.

Sanji gritted his teeth, breaking his cigarette in the process asirritation made his brow twitch in annoyance. The ladies hadn'tcomplained... on the contrary, Sanji was sure, he was the sole reasonthey were coming to the shitty restaurant in the first place.

Every woman wanted to be treated like a princess and that was whathe did: he treated every lady like a true diamond... it wasn't evenas if he tried to pick them up or anything.

No, not any more.

Shuddering as a fresh gash of wind surged through the alley andmessed up his hair, Sanji finished his cigarette, stumped out thebutt on the ground and with hands in his pockets, he made his wayhome.

He wasn't living far from the restaurant and that was sole thereason, he had chosen an apartment in a rundown building, placed inone of the worst parts of town.

Living in Tokyo was expensive and even though Sanji earned morethan enough money as sous-chef to rent a nice enough place, he wassaving money to fulfil his dream: to open up his very own restaurant:'The All Blue', a place where you can eat seafood from all over theworld.

It had been his dream since he was little and even though peoplehad laughed at him for such a romantic dream, he had paid them nomind and continued to work hard for his goal.

Not everyone laughed, though. Zeff had always been supportive andhis friends cheered him up whenever he had been in a slump.

They were always complimenting him on his food, even when itwasn't up to par, and Zoro, too, had grunted out a compliment or two.

Sanji grinned.

That guy was always the toughest nut to crack. Only Sanji'sriceballs never failed to catch him off guard: the damn bastard lovedthem to death and it always showed on his face.

It was a surprisingly cute trait... one Sanji never got tired ofteasing him about.

Humming as he walked through the dark alleys that led to his home,Sanji stopped abruptly when his sensitive ears picked up a noise.After a few seconds, he thought he had misheard and wanted to walkon, but then-

"Oh, no! Please let me go! I don't have anything!Please!"

Sanji whirled to his right when he heard the panicked voice andstarted to run down the narrow way between buildings.

It was coming from an alley just by the main street, one manypeople had to walk through when they didn't want to make a detour...a fact well known by many robbers.

His feet carried him on and on, always following the obviouslyfemale screams as walls flew past him. A cat hissed angrily as heapproached her but Sanji jumped over her, scaring the poor thing todeath as he landed on his feet behind her. "Sorry, kitty!"he said, holding up his hand apologetically and never ceasing to run.

Sanji's feet screeched over the pavement when he had finallyreached the infamous alley and stopped suddenly as he saw theoriginator of the voice: a young girl surrounded by three uglybastards with knives in their hands.

One of them, a fat guy with three missing teeth was leering at thepoor girl, swinging his knife in front of her eyes. A dirty grinspread on his face as tears spilled down the girl's cheeks. She hadto be quite young, sixteen, eighteen at most and with the braids inher hair, she looked like a doll... innocent and trembling before theleering men.

"We don't care what you say, missy. Think ya can fool us,don't ya?," the fat guy said, using his knife to touch first hertear-stained cheek and then lining his way down to her cleavage. "Wegotta make a body search then, right gu-"

The bastard's dirty talk was stopped as Sanji's foot in his face.

As if in slow motion, the man's face distorted by the suddenforce, two teeth broke out of his mouth and when time returned to itsproper pace, he flew to the side and crushed against a wall, his bodyslumping to the ground, lifeless and unmoving.

"Aniki!" the two other thugs cried out in shock beforeturning to the blond who had kicked their boss aside. "You damnbastard! Who the fuck are ya?!" Their bodies took on a defensivestance, the knives in their hands trembling as they regarded theblond stranger with fear and disdain.

Sanji stood tall in front of the woman who silently cried behindhim. His face was twisted in anger as he looked at the ugly fools,his hands balled into fists in his pockets.

"Oi, you alright? Are you hurt?" he asked the girl overhis shoulder, ignoring the men in front of him.

The girl didn't answer at once but then Sanji could hear a tearful'yes'. "Run and get the police. I'll take care of thesebastards," he said and the remaining two men cried out inoutrage at his words.

"B-But..."

"I can handle them. Go!" he said a little louder thistime and the girl seemed to finally snap out of it. Taking a deepbreath, she thanked him and began to run down the way Sanji had comefrom.

One of the men wanted to follow her but Sanji quickly blocked hisway. "Not so fast, asshole. I said I would take care of you,didn't I? And I always keep my promises."

The guy sneered but Sanji only returned it with a twisted grin.They had no idea what they had bargained for when they attacked alady in his neighbourhood.

He was living on the second floor of a small building, hisapartment being one of five others on that floor. A metal stairwayconnected every home and provided a sort of joined balcony. Not thatanyone spent more time than was necessary on it.

The stairs creaked under Sanji's weight and reminded him onceagain of the building's bad state.

If it hadn't been for Franky and Usopp helping him and the otherresidents out, Sanji wouldn't even be able to live there any more.Things kept getting broken... the metal staircase was rusty, theheater was as reliable as a Luffy entrusted with food and fourthfloor resident Coby recently paid an involuntary visit to third floorAlvida as her ceiling broke down.

But that was why it was cheap... cheaper than any other apartmentsof that size and for Sanji, it was good enough.

Hobbling, he made his way to his door, careful not to put too muchweight on the rusty metal. He fumbled a bit with his keys in hispocket and then slowly turned the key in the lock.

Loud TV noises greeted him after Sanji had opened the door andwalked in.

As expected, the first thing he saw was a green alien stretchedout on his couch, a bottle of sake in his hand as he laughed loudlyabout some bad joke on TV.

"You do know that you don't live here, right?" Sanjiasked as he closed the door behind him. He gritted his teeth as hetried to walk over normally. It was no use alerting the marimo of hisinjured foot.

"I have a key," Zoro replied, shrugging before taking aswig of his bottle.

"That's for emergencies."

"This is an emergency."

"In what way?"

"I was out of sake," Zoro answered, swinging the nowempty bottle in front of Sanji's face as the chef came to a haltbefore him.

"I'm not a fucking convenience store, Zoro! Do it like otherpeople and buy your own damn food!"

Zoro grinned. "Strange... you aren't even drinking sake andyet you always have a whole new stash of bottles when I'm here. Anddon't even try to say they are for you... I know you just drink thatfancy wine of yours."

"I have other friends, you know?" Sanji said throughclenched teeth.

"But only Franky and Ace drink stuff like this," Zororeplied. "And neither of them are visiting you regularly. That'sonly me."

Sanji felt his eyebrow twitching again at Zoro's smug tone. "Sowhat? I just like you intoxicated and quiet when you'rehere. That doesn't mean you live here."

"I have a drawer and a toothbrush, though."

Sanji stared at him. "You've what?! Since when?"

"Today. It's more convenient that way and I don't have to useyours any more..."

Sanji didn't even know where to begin to reply to thatbut he desperately hoped that Zoro meant the drawer and nothis toothbrush with that last remark.

"You... I... what the-" he started but Zoro ignored himand stood up, making his way to the bathroom.

"Sorry, gotta piss," the marimo said and went pastSanji, making him feel like an idiot.

"Now, you just wait, you damn bastard! I'm not finishedtalk-" Sanji began. Forgetting about his foot, he wanted tofollow Zoro but was stopped by a surging pain in his right ankle ashe set his foot on the floor. "Fuck! Dammit!"

Apparently noticing the pain in his voice, Zoro came back at once."Shit, I knew something was off. Your suit was too wrinkled fora princess like you... Are you hurt?"

If Zoro hadn't sounded that concerned, Sanji would have giving hima piece of his mind for that 'princess' remark. "I'm alright,"he said instead as Zoro crouched down before him to look at his foot."I just got careless when I beat up some thugs... twisted myankle."

Sanji grabbed Zoro's shoulder for support and hissed as Zoropicked up his foot and gently removed his shoe and sock.

"It's swollen... we have to cool it. Lay down, cook," hesaid to Sanji and too tired to protest, Sanji did as he was told. Helay down on the couch and waited until Zoro had done his neededbathroom break and came back with some ice from the kitchen. Gentlypicking up Sanji's foot, Zoro sat down and lay Sanji's feet on hislegs to put the icepack on the cook's swollen ankle.

Sanji hissed again at the first contact and then sighed in reliefwhen the cold began to ease the pain.

"Fine with this program or do you want me to change to thecooking show?" Zoro asked, remote control already in hand.

"Cooking show," Sanji mumbled, staring at a point at thewall. It was embarrassing how familiar this whole situation was.

Sanji often got hurt, mostly when defending a lady but sometimes,also at a tournament or when he was sparring with someone.

And Zoro... Zoro was more often at Sanji's place than at his ownand thus normally the first person to take care of him.

Sanji wouldn't ever admit it but he was rather stubborn aboutinjuries and it always took one of his friends to make him realisethat they needed treatment. Zoro, as the first person at the scene,usually did everything he could with his limited medical knowledgeand then dragged him off to Chopper the next day.

It had taken Zoro a whole lot more of 'convincing' the first fewtimes but now Sanji didn't even try to fight him any more, because...

Another thing he would never admit to was that he quite enjoyedthe pampering.

"What happened?" Zoro asked quietly as he took offSanji's other sock and shoe. "Another damsel in distress?"

"Something like that, yeah."

"You have to be more careful, cook. Those guys might havebeen weak but anyone can get a lucky shot once in a while."

Sanji's eyebrows rose at that and he turned his head to look atZoro. "You lecturing me now?"

Zoro shrugged. "More like giving you advice. I know you turnblind and deaf whenever a skirt comes your way but this is juststupid," he said as he began to massage Sanji's healthy foot."How often do you intend to get hurt?"

"Says the guy who is covered in scars," Sanji muttered,gripping the cushion at his side as Zoro eased his tense flesh. Damn,he was good at that.

"That's why I'm saying this, Sanji," Zoro replied,looking away from Sanji's feet and directly into his uncovered eye."I don't want you to end up like me."

"I won't. It's just a hurt ankle, Zoro. It's not like I'mfighting with swords like you."

"But they were armed, weren't they? Cowards like that alwaysare."

Sanji flinched inwardly as he had been caught... again. "Justknives. They were... tiny, really."

"Ow!" Zoro exclaimed as he blocked the cushion with hisarm and laughed again. "But seriously, don't worry about Kuina.Even if people say stuff about us, she won't believe it. She knows wearen't into guys and just friends, cook."

Yeah, just friends.

But as Sanji sat there with Zoro, watching silly programs andenjoying the massage on his feet and legs...

If there was nothing to it then what was he feeling so guiltyabout?

Time stretched on and before Sanji knew it, Zoro's birthdayapproached.

Blowing on his cold and glove-covered hands, Sanji looked at thecollection of cakes in the shopping window of the confectionery andsmiled.

Of course, he wasn't thinking about buying one... his pride aschef would never allow him to buy a cake made by someone else, but hedid look to see if he could get some inspiration from the display ofsweets. The marimo was extremely picky about any sort of sweet foodand Sanji planned to surprise him with the best fucking cake, he hadever eaten!

The party would be at Robin-chan's house... the woman was a famousarchaeologist and living in a big mansion, so most of their partieswere being held at her place. It had been supposed to be a surpriseparty but... Luffy and Chopper were as good at keeping secrets as Acewas at keeping his shirt on. Or Franky his pants, even.

Now, it was a surprise party sans the surprise but that didn'tmean they weren't looking forward to it: the Strawhats (as theircircle of friends had been called since High School) were famous fortheir parties and one of their friends turning twenty-one deserved tohave the best fucking celebration Tokyo had ever seen!

Sanji grinned as his genius mind had just come up with a greatreceipt. Mentally going through the list of groceries he still had tobuy and the ingredients for Zoro's cake, he went off in direction ofthe twenty-four hour grocery store at the corner of the street. Hewould have to try out baking the cake first...

But not only Zoro's birthday made next Saturday special. It wasalso the day when most of them would be meeting Kuina for the firsttime. They didn't have the chance until then because Kuina wasusually busy working at the dojo she had inherited from her fatherbut seeing that Zoro and her were now engaged...

Sanji's smile wavered slightly.

He was happy that Zoro had found someone like Kuina but... thatdidn't keep him from feeling this pang of jealousy in his heartwhenever the thought occurred.

Sanji paced in his living-room, his eyes darting again and againto the clock.

He clucked his teeth angrily as he waited for Zoro to arrive.

The bodyguard was having a job that day and as it was too late todrive back home for him, Zoro had warned Sanji that he would bestaying over that night.

Now, it was a bit over two hours after the promised time and Sanjiwas becoming nervous. Zoro's job was dangerous... it happened oftenthat he was stabbed, broke a bone or two and barely escaped asituation that would have meant sure death for any normal person.

Sanji had lost count of the times he had been called by Chopperand told that his friend had been submitted to the hospital again.

Chopper's grandma Kureha was working at the hospital and alwaysgot to know first when one of their friends were there. Chopperhimself had a vast medical knowledge, seeing as he had preferred tostudy medicine instead of playing when he was young and so he wasunofficially a young doctor at the age of fifteen.

Sanji's heart nearly stopped when there was suddenly a loud thunkon his door. Going over quickly, Sanji opened the door and Zorostumbled in, covered in blood and with his shirt cut to pieces.

"Zoro!" Sanji cried out as he slang an arm around Zoro'sshoulders to support his body. "You... what are you doing here?!You have to go to the hospital!"

"No..." Zoro said panting, his chest heaving with heavybreaths. "Not my blood... most of it... not mine."

"What... what the hell happened? You said the job today wasroutine, didn't you?!"

"Yeah, but... got ambushed. Turned out the politician hadmade some enemies out of a loan shark company," Zoro saidthrough gritted teeth. "Didn't tell me about it or I would'veasked Johnny and Yosaku to help out. Got them all, but... collateraldamage."

"Collateral damage?! Collateral damage?!" Sanjiyelled and Zoro flinched. "Are you fucking insane?! You look asif you had just fought against an army in World War III!"

"Keep it down, will you? Aren't the walls thin?"

"I don't fucking care about that now! All I know is that I'llget you to the shitty hospital, marimo! I'm gonna call Chopper and-"

"No!" Zoro cried out and clutched at Sanji's shirt,dirtying it with blood. "He has his entrance examination forTokyo U tomorrow, doesn't he? And I'm not hurt badly... the bruisesare a bitch but nothing I can't handle."

Sanji stared into Zoro's determined eyes and sighed. The shittyswordsman was right... Chopper had been nervous for weeks andincredibly happy that he finally got the chance of entering the bestUniversity of Japan. Despite his vast medical knowledge, he hadfreaked out whenever his entrance examination was mentioned.

Calling him now and telling him about Zoro would probably give theyoung boy a heart attack.

"Fine..." Sanji said reluctantly. "Fine,but I'll take a look at your injuries and if I get even the slightestimpression of you needing a doctor, then I'm going to fucking getone, got it?"

"I don't need a doctor, curly-brow! A bit of sleepand I'll be fine."

"Don't give me that shit, Zoro. I'm gonna call Law if I haveto."

Zoro blanched. "Are you insane?! That guy is fuckingbonkers!"

"He is a fucking genius, that's what he is... and now, shutup! I'm gonna get you to the bathroom."

Zoro scowled but didn't say anything as Sanji supported him. Oncethere, Zoro sat down on the toilet seat, his shoulders sacking as hislegs finally didn't have to carry his weight any more.

Sanji peeled first the remains of Zoro's T-Shirt off and threw iton the floor to throw away later... with that many cuts and bloodstains, Zoro couldn't wear it any more, anyway.

After that Sanji slowly opened the clasps of Zoro's bullet-proofvest and took it off. The chef hissed as it made way for toned skinand he saw the full extent of Zoro's bruises. Practically his wholetorso was covered in a collection of red and blue, one especiallylarge bruise covering the swordsman's entire left side.

"What the hell have they hit you with that you look likethis?"

"Iron tubes..." Zoro mumbled sheepishly and thengrinned. "You should see the tubes, though."

Sanji scowled but didn't remark on Zoro's bad sense of humour ashe carefully scanned his chest for broken ribs. He heard Zoro suck ina breath or two as he touched his sensitive flesh but Sanji didn'tthink he found any broken bones. Muscles tensed under his touch andthe chef tried not to stare as they moved under Zoro's tanned skin.

Slowly, Sanji went on with his examination, determined not to lookinto Zoro's eyes while he worked. Having Zoro half-naked in front ofhim and having to touch his well-build chest, was a dangeroussituation if there ever was one.

Franky's words kept flowing into his mind as Sanji's touch becameless probing and more caressing, his fingers brushing over skin thatwas much softer than he had imagined...

"Sanji, I..."

Nearly, jumping as Zoro spoke to him, Sanji blushed and jerkedback his fingers. "Th-There doesn't seem to be anything broken,but we should go to the hospital tomorrow. Just... just to be sure,you know?" he said, avoiding the swordsman's no doubt curiouseyes.

Taking a deep breath, Sanji looked back at Zoro's body, avoidingthe head as he tried to estimate the rest of his injuries.

At least, Zoro seemed to have said the truth about the blood... hedid have a couple of cuts on his skin but nothing bad enough that hewould need stitches.

A fucking miracle, seeing as Zoro had gathered more of them thanFrankenstein's monster itself.

Frowning, Sanji went to get a wet cloth and his first-aid box. Hetook a few deep breaths as he stood in front of the sink, cringingwhen he saw his flushed face in the mirror. Glaring at his troubledimage, he grabbed the edge of the sink, gritting his teeth as he gavehimself a mental slap.

He was such an idiot.

Taking care of your friend's injuries... there was nothing strangeabout that, was there?

They had done so much before... even bathed together in hotsprings or sparred with naked upper bodies and Sanji had never lethis eyes wander before, had never felt his stomach flutter or hisheart speeding up when he had looked at Zoro or even touched him.

And yet, here he was... completely flustered and acting as if itwas a hot, half-naked woman he took care of.

Franky's words must have opened a vent of some sort... they hadstarted something in Sanji, made him notice Zoro more and introducedthe possibility to him that maybe, just maybe, he was feeling morefor him than friendship.

At that point, there was no sense in denying it: Sanji wasattracted to Zoro, painfully so, and if he was completely honest withhimself, then he had known it for a while... even before that fatefulnight at the club.

Once Sanji had gotten a cloth and wetted it in the sink, hecarefully used it to clean Zoro's cuts and to remove the dried bloodaround them.

The vest had protected Zoro's chest from getting cut, but therewere several ones on his arms and one on his face.

He tried to ignore the swordsman's half-naked state, his eyesrefusing to look at the broad chest. Sanji's heart was beatingheavily in his rip cage as he gently brushed the cloth over Zoro'sskin. Muscles tensed again under his touch and Sanji's heart seemedto speed up at every move, every ripple of muscles...

After Sanji had finished cleaning the one on Zoro's arms, hewashed the cloth and made to clean Zoro's cheek, his handoutstretched to reach the wound as he looked at Zoro's face for thefirst time after starting to treat the swordsman's wounds.

Sanji swallowed as dark eyes met his... a look so fierce andprobing that Sanji's breath hitched in his throat. The hand that wasstill holding onto the cloth was clasped by rough fingers, the warmththey emitted seeping through Sanji's every bone.

"You've changed," Zoro said, his voice low as he heldSanji trapped with his gaze. "You've never done this before. Youwere never that... gentle."

Sanji swallowed as fierce eyes bored into him. He tried to pullback his hand but Zoro's grip was strong and the swordsman didn'teven allow him an inch of backing up. He was completely trapped... bythe strong grip as well as those storming eyes.

Taking a few shaking breaths, Sanji said, "I'm not nervous,Zoro. I just... I have to clean your wounds. The cut on your cheekand then... disinfectant. I still have to use it, I-"

Sanji was stopped by a tug on his arm, the cloth he still had inhis hand, falling to the ground upon the sudden movement. His faceflushed again as he realised that he was standing between Zoro's legsnow, his heart thumping and thumping as Zoro's free hand suddenly layon the small of his back.

Zoro sighed, his head falling forward and his forehead leaning onSanji's chest, right above his fast beating heart. He had to feelit... had to feel the strong, steady beat under Sanji's skin.

"What changed, Sanji? When did it start?" Zoro askedhonestly, his hand letting go of Sanji's one and joining the otherone on the chef's back, hugging him tightly.

Sanji smiled, his fingers brushing over the base of Zoro's neck.He grinned as he felt the swordsman shudder under his fingertips.

The situation hadn't become any easier but... Zoro seemed to befeeling the same way and that alone lifted a heavy weight off Sanji'sshoulders. "It's... not easy to accept. Guess we didn't wantto accept it," Sanji said. "We're both guys. I'm a ladies'man and you... you're..."

"Kuina... I have Kuina," Zoro said, the hands on Sanji'sback holding onto the chef even tighter. "Shit! This is bad...really, really bad, Sanji."

Sanji opened his eyes and removed his arms around Zoro to presshis shoulders back. Getting the idea, Zoro let go of his back to lookup at him.

"You love her," Sanji said slowly, avoiding theswordsman's eyes.

A hand came up to his cheek, startling Sanji as Zoro willed him tolook at him. "Yeah, but... I'm so confused. Kuina is... she issafe. I do love her but you're... you."

Sanji swallowed as his heart began to speed up at those words.What he was implying was-

"Fuck! This is so messed up," Zoro said, his facetwisting as if in pain.

Sanji's own face heated up as he looked at Zoro, as he saw thatearnest, haunted look.

Zoro's thumb brushed over his cheek, the callous digit leavingfire on every part of his skin and Sanji took a shaky breath as itmoved down to his lips and brushed over sensitive skin.

"Sanji," Zoro said breathlessly and his name on theswordsman's lips was enough to destroy even the last bit of thechef's resolve. "Does this feel like a joke to you?"

Zoro grabbed the collar of Sanji's shirt and tugged him down,smashing his lips against the cook's. Sanji closed his eyes at onceat the contact, moving his lips against Zoro's and opening his mouthas soon as Zoro's tongue begged for entrance.

They clutched at each other. Like drowning men, they tasted eachother's lips, each contact an explosion of feelings.

Zoro pulled Sanji onto his lap, hissing when their erectionsrubbed against one another. Forgetting all about Zoro's injuries,Sanji wrapped his legs around Zoro's waist, not noticing how theswordsman flinched as Sanji's leg brushed against the bruise onZoro's side.

He was too occupied with ravishing Zoro's lips and moving his hipson his lap, enjoying the friction it caused on their stiff and stillcovered members.

After a while, the kissing ceased and they concentrated on movingtheir hips together, their trousers getting uncomfortably tight.

"Sanji... bedroom," Zoro said through gritted teeth andSanji nodded against the crook of his neck.

Without wasting even a second, Zoro held onto Sanji's legs andstood up, carrying him out of the room and in direction of thebedroom.

Clothes were shed with alarming speed and once both of them werenaked, Sanji pushed Zoro onto his back and let his hands wander overthat broad chest, he had examined only a few seconds ago.

"Not in a way that I didn't enjoy," Zoro answered,smirking so smugly that Sanji rolled his eyes.

"What a pervert... you a masochist?"

"Do you want to find out?" Zoro asked as he grabbedSanji's hips and pressed them down, so his erection was pressingagainst Sanji's ass. "Or do you have a thing for it, too?"

Sanji flushed as Zoro was pressed against him. "Are youasking me if I want to be the bottom?" he asked, biting his lipat the thought.

"We can take turns?" Zoro asked, grinning. "Iwouldn't mind being fucked by you."

"I'll have to take your word for it, shithead," Sanjisaid and leaned down to softly kiss Zoro's lips.

"Make me feel good."

"When did you first notice?" Sanji asked afterwards.Zoro was lying on his stomach, one arm under one of Sanji's pillowsas he felt comfortably drowsy.

Sanji, on the other hand, felt strangely awake. There was a faintpain in his back but nothing too uncomfortable. Thankfully, he stillhad that bottle of lube stored in his bedside drawer.

"I don't know," Zoro answered after a bit. "I doknow that I began to see you differently since a few months ago. Isuddenly wanted to spend more and more time with you, yearned to talkor even fight with you. I've been searching for excuses to stay withyou and... and I also began lying to Kuina."

"So... I'm the 'other woman', huh?" Sanji said and madea face. "Don't think I like that expression, though."

"W-We... can stop this, you know? Just stop and... shedoesn't even have to know."

"Can we? Can we really stop this?" Zoro asked.

Sanji wanted to say yes, wanted to tell him that they shouldn'thurt Kuina and that he wished them happiness but the words got stuckin his throat. These lies were just too unbearable.

Sanji turned over, so his head lay beside Zoro's on the pillow.One of his hands made its way near unconsciously over to the base ofZoro's neck and absent-mindedly, his fingers began to run throughZoro's short hair.

Zoro sighed when he didn't receive an answer, his eyes closing atthe tender fingers in his hair. "Sanji... what are we doinghere?"

"What we've been doing for the past few months, marimo,"Sanji answered. "We're cheating on your girlfriend."

A week later, it was finally time for Zoro's birthday party.

In order for them to have a bit of time to think everything over,Sanji and Zoro had agreed not to meet until that time, but three daysafter that night, Zoro had missed his last train home after a job andreluctantly appeared on Sanji's doorstep. It had taken them a wholeof three seconds to stumble into Sanji's apartment, shed theirclothes and slamming the door shut behind them.

They had ended up making love right on the floor that night.

Nervously, Sanji fumbled on his tie as he looked down the street.He was right in front of Robin's house and had been told to go andgreet the guests after he had nearly destroyed one of Robin'sfavourite vases... his nervousness had made a right klutz out of him.

Meeting Kuina that night was what had him on edge. Sanji wasfeeling guilty, so incredibly guilty that even the mere thought ofhaving to meet her and act as if nothing had happened, made hisstomach churn.

Both, Zoro and him, had agreed that it couldn't go on like that.They didn't want to betray Kuina, to hurt her, but... they hadalready done just that and it was nagging at Sanji's conscience. Hehad always heard stories about men who had cheated on their belovedand when they made excuses and said it couldn't be helped, Sanjiwanted to do nothing more than to kick their sorry asses.

There was always a choice and the one Zoro and Sanji made, wouldultimately end up hurting Kuina.

"Care to tell me what is eating you up now, cook-san?"Robin suddenly asked, making Sanji jump and release a breath thatturned to white smoke in the cold air.

"Robin-chan! As lovely as you look in that coat and with yourflushed cheeks, you shouldn't be out here," Sanji said, smilinghis gentlest smile. "This weather isn't suitable for such alovely lady."

Robin wasn't fazed by that, however. "Cook-san, I believe Iasked you a question. Will you tell me what's going on or am Iallowed a guess?"

Sanji tried to stare her down but she looked just too lovely likethat, so he sighed and looked down instead. "Your guess will beright as always, anyway. It's Kuina."

"Indeed it is then," Robin said with that unnervingsmile of hers. "The only question now is, why you have yourpanties in a hypothetical bunch. Are you nervous to finally meet yourbest friend's fiancée or is there something else your friendsought to know?"

There was something that everyone in Sanji's circle of friendsknew by heart: Whenever Robin was talking to you like an all-knowingtherapist, then she was an all-knowing therapist. And quitea good one, actually.

Friends

Activity

There are only three days left until the deadline, so if you want to post a prompt for the AKitD sequel and haven't done so already, then please do it until the 10th April!

26 prompts have been gathered so far, which is an amazing number (I expected like 10 at most XD) and I've already started to gather ideas for several of the prompts.

That aside: the rather long story, I've been talking about since 'Boundaries', is coming along rather well as well and I'm confident to be able to post the first chapter soon. I'm rather nervous about it, though... it has such tight plot and I'm still feeling a bit like the pacing isn't quite right yet... *scratches head*.Well, I won't post it until I'm confident about it.

But enough babbling of me.

Happy Easter, everyone!I haven't really done anything holiday-ish, but maybe I can squeeze a drabble or short-story out *shrugs*. Will have to see how my mind works.

Hope you enjoy your holidays! (if you have 'em and/or celebrate, that is)